pondus et attonitas sermo qui duceret aures. 20 mox undare foro victrix opulentia linguae tutarique reos. ipsa haec amplissima sedes orantem stupuit, bis laudatura regentem. hinc te pars Libyae moderantem iura probavit, quae nunc tota probat; longi sed pignus amoris 25 exiguae peperere morae populumque clientem publica mansuris testantur vocibus aera. inde tibi Macetum tellus et credita Pellae moenia, quae famulus quondam ditavit Hydaspes; tantaque commissae revocasti gaudia genti 30 mitibus arbitriis, quantum bellante Philippo floruit aut nigri cecidit cum regia Pori. Sed non ulterius te praebuit urbibus aula: maluit esse suum; terris edicta daturus, supplicibus responsa venis. oracula regis 35 eloquio crevere tuo, nec dignius umquam maiestas meminit sese Romana locutam. hinc sacrae mandantur opes orbisque tributa possessi, quidquid fluviis evolvitur auri, quidquid luce procul venas rimata sequaces 40 abdita pallentis fodit sollertia Bessi. Ac velut expertus[171] lentandis navita tonsis praeficitur lateri custos; hinc ardua prorae temperat et fluctus tempestatesque futuras edocet; adsiduo cum Dorida vicerit usu, 45 iam clavum totamque subit torquere carinam:
[171] _expertus_ Barthius; Birt keeps MSS. _exertus_.
converse the admiration and delight of all that heard it. The wealth of thy triumphant eloquence soon overflowed the forum and brought safety to the accused. Yea, this most august assembly was astonied at thy pleading, as it was twice to applaud thy governance. Next, a part of Libya approved the administration which it now in its entirety enjoys; but thy brief stay won for thee a pledge of perpetual love, and public statues bear witness with enduring eloquence that thou wert a nation’s guardian. Macedonia was next committed to thy care and the walls of Pella, enriched once by conquered Hydaspes. The mildness of thy rule brought to the country entrusted to thee such joy as it once knew under warlike Philip or when the empire of Indian Porus fell to Alexander’s arms.
But Rome could not spare thy services longer to the provinces; she chose rather to have thee for her own; thou comest to give edicts to the world, to make reply to suppliants. A monarch’s utterance has won dignity from thine eloquence, never can the majesty of Rome recall when she spoke more worthily. After this the offerings and wealth of the world, the tribute of the empire, is entrusted to thy care; the gold washed down by the rivers and that dug out of deep Thracian mines by the skill of pale-faced Bessi who track the hidden seams--all is thine.